Understanding Website Project Costs and Strategic Value in 2025

When a new website inquiry comes in, it often begins with a question about pricing. While it may seem straightforward, website production costs can vary greatly based on factors like the chosen content management system (CMS), the website’s size, and any required integrations, such as booking engines or stock systems.

Before Diving into Website Costs: Consider Your Website’s Strategic Role

A website can be your primary sales channel, or it can act as a critical trust signal. Defining how it aligns with your overall brand and business strategy is essential. This understanding drives better results and provides a clear framework for evaluating your investment’s success.

Selecting an agency that prioritizes understanding your unique goals is crucial. A discovery process that delves into your requirements and business objectives is a strong indicator that the agency is dedicated to delivering a website that supports your long-term business objectives.

DIY vs. Professional Websites 

When planning a website, consider whether a DIY approach (such as using Squarespace or Wix) meets your needs or if a professional agency can better support your goals. While DIY solutions work well for simple websites on a budget, an agency offers added value, including time savings, professional design, integration with complex features, and a strategic approach to align your website’s functionality with business objectives.

Understanding the Factors Influencing Website Costs

While there are no fixed rules for website investments, we have identified six key factors that help determine the cost of a website project. These factors have been derived from our extensive experience in producing a wide range of websites:

1. Branding & Brand Strategy

Having a clear brand strategy is crucial for the success of your business, and will lead and guide the website development process. It encompasses things like: your business mission, vision, values, key differentiators, goals, customer understanding, brand elements, messaging, and tone of voice. At a minimum, you should have a clear brand identity prior to beginning your website project.

2. Page Complexity

The number of unique pages and their functionality affect the overall cost. Simple text and image layouts are more budget-friendly, while custom interactive elements or unique layouts increase complexity and cost.

3. Content Management System

A CMS, like WordPress, Statamic or Shopify, allows easy updates to website content but can increase the time and cost to build. Selecting the right CMS depends on your team’s needs and the website’s content requirements.

4. Copywriting

Whether you handle content creation in-house, hire a specialized copywriter, or work with a web design agency, quality content impacts user engagement and SEO. Content should be relevant, optimized, concise, and keyword-focused.

5. Photography & Videography

Visual elements play a vital role in a successful website. The cost of photography and videography varies based on factors like shot requirements, storyboard and script development, talent, shooting days and locations, and the usage of stock imagery.

6. Integrations

Integrating systems, such as customer relationship management (CRM) or e-commerce platforms, adds functionality to the website but may also increase costs. Understanding these needs upfront helps prevent unexpected expenses.

Our goal when working with a client on any website project is to ensure that the website fits within their overall digital marketing strategy and that it delivers on the intended goals.

Website Costs FAQ

How much does a website cost per month?

Monthly website expenses typically include hosting and maintenance. Website maintenance covers security updates, backups, plugin updates, and performance enhancements, while performance-focused maintenance might include speed optimization, SEO, and content updates to keep up with digital trends. Depending on your chosen CMS, and integrations there may also be additional licensing fees to consider.

How much does a website domain cost?

Generally, a new domain costs anywhere from $9-$20 per year. We require our clients to purchase their own domains, when somebody else purchases your domain, they own it forever. It's really important that you own this yourself to protect your business in the future.

Why WordPress?

At Juicebox we build predominantly with WordPress and Shopify. Both of these content management systems allow for flexibility in design along with easy to use backend systems. We also have a new headless cms option in Statamic, which offers significant performance improvement but does have associated licensing fees.

Do You Use Premade WordPress Themes?

All our websites are custom-built. Pre-made themes may compromise speed and often include excessive plugins, which can affect performance. Custom-built sites offer better optimization and support a streamlined, high-performance user experience.

Collaborate with Juicebox

As the digital landscape becomes increasingly complex, building a website with a clear strategy is essential for realizing your investment’s full potential. Juicebox crafts websites that not only align with your business goals but also resonate with your target audience. Ready to start a new project or revamp your existing website? Let’s connect to create a digital presence that drives meaningful results.

Juicebox works to ensure that every website we create not only aligns with our clients' business goals but also resonates with their target audience. If you're contemplating a new website or a revamp of your existing one, let's start a conversation. With Juicebox by your side, you'll embark on a journey to a compelling digital presence that drives results.